Synthetic Vision #7 Ganymede interview

interview by Danny King
(email Danny for more info on Synthetic Vision)

>Q1 - Where did the name Ganymede come from and is there any meaning >behind it?.

The name "Ganymede" originates in Greek mythology; we chose it because it sounds dynamic and specifically because it's the name of Jupiter's largest moon (hence all of the space photographs on the album). Unfortunately, we've found that fewer people than we had hoped are familiar with the name and don't know how to pronounce it!

>Q2 - Ganymede have labeled themselves Electro Pop for the Millennium and returning Electro Pop to its roots, Do Ganymede feel there is a clear need to bring Electro Pop back to what it was and should be?.

No, there wasn't any real agenda behind that statement, it's simply our way of advertising what our music sounds like. Since we don't have the luxury of Top-40 radio as a promotional tool, it's pretty important to entice listeners with a dramatic slogan and ad campaign. We simply write the music that we would like to hear ourselves, hoping to attract fans of modern synthpop as well as those who want to hear new music in the style of the electro-pop they loved in the 80's.

>Q3 - Because of the above statements from Ganymede, Do you think that Electro Pop/Synth Pop has become too diverse by adding other musical styles and taking away that purist sound?.

Not at all, one of the great things about the modern synthpop scene is that there is that diversity. Because all of the bands are making their music away from the confines of mainstream popularity and major label pressure, they are making exactly the music they want to make, without having to sell out or compromise their sound at all. Therefore, the end result is such a wide variety of styles that there is something for everyone to like, and the more synthpop fans the better. With all that variety, there will always be some bands with a "purist" sound, with others that choose to take the genre in a different direction.

>Q4 - Ganymede are of course signed to the American label Ninthwave Records, Is this a permanent signing with a number of future albums planned?.

Our current contract with Ninthwave Records is only a licensing deal for the "After The Fall" album. However, our experience with them has been so positive that there's no reason why we won't continue working together in the future, unless we get another offer that we absolutely can't refuse. Of course, a lot depends on what kind of success we have with this album. We're already hard at work on our second album, so I can definitely promise more Ganymede music in the future.

>Q5 - Ganymede have recently released their debut album After The Fall, Has the album only been released in America or further afield and at this early stage what has been the reaction towards it?.

The wonderful thing about the internet is that it truly unifies the world. It's just as easy for someone abroad to learn about our music and order our CD online as it is for someone Stateside, which sort of renders the concept of domestic and foreign releases obsolete. That being said, however, we would be interested in pursuing foreign licensing deals should we benefit from them. We've been very encouraged by the enthusiastic reaction we've received to our CD so far, which will hopefully continue as more people discover our music.

>Q6 - It's become acceptable for Synth Pop bands to do cover versions especially from the 'obvious' bands from the 80s, Have Ganymede ever covered any of these cover versions?, If not are there any plans to do so?.

There is a tribute album in the planning stages that we'll be contributing a track to if the project ever gets off the ground. Besides that and any other tribute albums that may come along, I think we'll be reserving the Ganymede albums for exclusively original material. The difficulty in doing a cover of a great song that you love is that it's nearly impossible to escape the shadow of the original version. It would probably be more interesting and rewarding to do a synthpop cover of a non-synthpop song, or take a synthpop song that you feel is flawed and try to improve upon it.

>Q7 - The American Synth Pop scene seems to be increasing with bands labels the recent awards arranged by the Lexicon magazine and the A Different Drum tour, Do you think its only a question of time before Synth Pop becomes more accepted in America and breaks into the mainstream or will it remain more underground?.

It definitely seems like the scene is growing exponentially, so I'd like to think that it's only a matter of time before the mainstream takes notice. I personally believe that a mainstream synthpop movement would be the perfect antidote to the troubling state that Top-40 pop music is in today. It would certainly be interesting to see what would happen to synthpop if it started generating mainstream popularity and a large cash flow, either for the better or the worse. Even if the scene stays in the underground, however, those in the know will always have access to lots of great new music. The synthpop fans can do their part to help out by introducing their friends to the scene and promoting the music in any way possible.

>Q8 - What are your favourite Synth Pop bands at the moment?.

I feel a particularly strong affinity for many of the newer synthpop bands that are going for a "classic analog" sound similar to ours, such as Neuropa, ElectroSquad, Novelty, and Gary Flanagan. However, there are many more new bands I like, in addition to all of the classic acts.

>Finally to finish the interview the final words are yours.....

Please visit www.planetGANYMEDE.com for more info, sound samples, and online ordering. Thanks for supporting our music and modern synthpop in general!